MARRAKESH, Morocco — The Kingdom of Morocco is grappling with an unprecedented disaster after the most powerful earthquake struck the country in more than 120 years, leaving at least 820 dead and hundreds more injured.
The 6.8-magnitude quake, which occurred late Friday night, has rattled communities from mountainous areas to major coastal cities, testing the nation’s resilience and emergency response capabilities.
The epicenter of the earthquake was in Al-Haouz, located 72 kilometers (45 miles) southwest of the tourist city of Marrakesh.
According to the US Geological Survey, the US Geological Survey also felt strong tremors in Rabat, Casablanca, and Essaouira.
“We felt a very violent tremor, and I realized it was an earthquake. I could see buildings moving,” said Abdelhak El Amrani, a 33-year-old Marrakesh resident. Many took to the streets in panic, the cries of children echoing through the night.
“Where destructive earthquakes are rare, buildings are simply not constructed robustly enough… so many collapse, resulting in high casualties,” said Bill McGuire, professor emeritus at Britain’s University College London.
According to updated figures from the Interior Ministry, the majority of the deaths occurred in Al-Haouz, the quake’s epicenter, and Taroudant provinces, but fatalities were also recorded in Marrakesh, Agadir, and the Casablanca area.
Another 672 people were reported injured, including 205 in critical condition.
Faisal Baddour, an engineer in Marrakesh, described the scene as chaotic. “It was as if a train was passing close to our houses.
Some families are still sleeping outside because we were so scared of the force of this earthquake.”
Footage circulated on social media showed significant damage, including a part of a minaret collapsed on Jemaa el-Fna square in historic Marrakesh.
An AFP correspondent reported that hundreds of people opted to spend the night in the square, fearing aftershocks.
International condolences poured in from European leaders, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Arab countries.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose nation established diplomatic ties with Morocco in 2020, ordered “any necessary assistance.”
The earthquake has sent shockwaves far beyond Morocco’s borders, being felt even in neighboring Algeria.
While Algeria reported no casualties, the event brought back memories of devastating earthquakes in the region, including the 7.3-magnitude El Asnam earthquake in 1980 that killed 2,500 people in Algeria.
Morocco’s last significant earthquake was in 2004 when a quake hit Al Hoceima in northeastern Morocco, killing at least 628 and injuring 926.
But Friday’s disaster far surpasses that toll. It has prompted a “red alert” for economic losses from the USGS PAGER system, indicating that extensive damage is probable and that a national or international level response is required.
As Morocco takes stock of this unparalleled tragedy, questions about preparedness and how the country plans to rebuild will arise.
In the immediate term, regional blood transfusion centers, including in Marrakesh, are calling for urgent blood donations as emergency services scramble to provide relief to those affected.
“The screaming and crying was unbearable,” said Fayssal Badour, a Marrakesh resident. As authorities mobilize to deal with the aftermath, the country faces a long road to recovery, both in terms of rebuilding its cities and healing the emotional scars of its people.
